Preachers Need to be Careful
A good illustration can be helpful in a sermon, just as Jesus used parables to show divine principles. But sermon illustrations can be dangerous things, too. A preacher can pay more attention to them than to the Bible he ought to be teaching (Romans 10:17).
The news tells about a man, who hurt himself seriously, becoming one with a runaway, crashing motorcycle. But there’s more danger than injured wrists when preachers go too far. Bible lessons can become just another worldly show and lead listeners away from truth. In the “just believe in Jesus” groups there’s too little already being taught. Listeners need to hear the true gospel (Hebrews 5:8-9), and not just be entertained “onstage.”
Motorcycling Pastor Injured
During
Service
Kokomo—A pastor brought out a dirt bike during a church service to demonstrate the concept of unity. Now he’s demonstrating the concept of healing. Jeff Harlow, senior pastor at Crossroads Community Church, broke his wrist when he lost control of the motorcycle at the start of Sunday’s 2nd service, driving off a 5-foot platform into the vacant first row of seats. He underwent surgery on Monday. “Jeff has already laughed a lot, so he’s OK,” said wife Becky. “I think his pride is bruised. He had this idea that he would bring this bike out onstage and show people how the rider would become one with the bike. He was going to just sit on it and drive it out. Somehow it got away from him. It was not intended.” No one else was hurt. (Journal Review)